Will the USA Be Present at the Final Confrontation of Nations?

Will the USA Be Present at the Final Confrontation of Nations?

In attempting to answer the basic question posed by this article, we will focus on several prophetic scripture passages that mention an eagle or a creature with eagle’s wings, which some people think alludes to the USA, probably because the bald eagle is the national emblem of the United States.

[Note: When we quote Scripture in this article, we use the wording in the New King James Version of the Bible, unless indicated otherwise.]

Ezekiel 17:1-8:

[T]he word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, pose a riddle, and speak a parable to the house of Israel,and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: ‘A great eagle with large wings and long pinions, full of feathers of various colors, came to Lebanon and took from the cedar the highest branch. He cropped off its topmost young twig and carried it to a land of trade; he set it in a city of merchants. Then he took some of the seed of the land and planted it in a fertile field; he placed it by abundant waters and set it like a willow tree. and it grew and became a spreading vine of low stature; its branches turned toward him, but its roots were under it. So it became a vine, brought forth branches, and put forth shoots. But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers; and behold, this vine bent its roots toward him, and stretched its branches toward him, from the garden terrace where it had been planted, that he might water it. It was planted in good soil by many waters, to bring forth branches, bear fruit, and become a majestic vine.’”

This scripture passage certainly does not allude to the Last Days. Therefore, despite the fact that two great eagles are mentioned, there is no logical reason to believe that either of these eagles is a depiction of the United States at the final confrontation of nations.

Daniel 7:2-10:

Daniel spoke, saying, “I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, each different from the other. The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched till its wings were plucked off; and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet like a man, and a man’s heart was given to it. And suddenly another beast, a second, like a bear. It was raised up on one side, and had three ribs in its mouth between its teeth. And they said thus to it: ‘Arise, devour much flesh!’ After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird. The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it. After this I saw in the night visions, and behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. I was considering the horns, and there was another horn, a little one, coming up among them, before whom three of the first horns were plucked out by the roots. And there, in this horn, were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking pompous words.

Although subsequent verses in Daniel 7 indicate that this passage of scripture pertains to the Last Days, there does not seem to be sufficient reason to believe that the beast that has eagle’s wings represents the USA, since the basic features of this beast are those of a lion, not an eagle.

Revelation 12:13-17:

Now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male Child. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent. So the serpent spewed water out of his mouth like a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away by the flood. But the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the flood which the dragon had spewed out of his mouth. And the dragon was enraged with the woman, and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Not only does this scripture passage pertain to the Last Days, but also its mention of a great eagle could be a symbolic reference to the United States. Although some sources think the woman that is mentioned in this passage represents Christians or Christianity, other sources believe the woman represents Israel. We agree with the latter viewpoint, because we think the crown of 12 stars mentioned in verse one of the same chapter alludes to the 12 tribes of Israel, since it does not seem plausible that the USA could rescue all, or even most, of the Christians scattered throughout Israel and other countries in the Middle East, much less throughout other regions as well. Thus, this passage seems to indicate that, sometime during the Last Days, the USA will rescue Israel from being harmed by the nations that are under the control of Satan (i.e., the serpent or dragon – see verse 9). However, there is no indication in this passage that the USA will subsequently be present at the final confrontation of nations.

Conclusion

Although the United States may be involved in some way during the End Times, the Bible does not indicate that the USA will be present at the final confrontation of nations. This conclusion is based on not only the scripture passages that we have addressed in this article, but also on our consideration of scripture passages that pertain to the final confrontation. Any reason we could give as to why a current world power like the USA would not be present at such a climatic time in history would be mere speculation. [For additional perspective regarding the final confrontation of nations, click on “Will There Actually Be a Battle of Armageddon?”]

Copyright 2014 by Harvey Armour. If you have any questions or comments about this article, contact Harvey Armour at harveyarmour@yahoo.com. Mr. Armour desires to provide helpful insights from a Christian perspective on financial matters and difficult biblical matters. The information provided with regard to articles on personal or family money management is not intended to replace professional advice. Please consult with your own independent attorney and tax accountant to review and approve your financial decisions.